“20 Feet from Stardom”

The transcendent joy and agonizing heartbreak of making music — and trying to make it in music — have seldom been captured as vividly as in “20 Feet from Stardom.”

An often riveting film documentary about the lives of some of the world’s best background singers, it provides more real-life thrills and authentic human drama than any summer blockbuster. It also features such superstars as Stevie Wonder, Bruce Springsteen, Mick Jagger, Bette Midler and Sting. But they willingly take a backseat to Darlene Love, Merry Clayton, Lisa Fischer and other singing talents, whose luminous vocal contributions are as invaluable as they are overlooked by most listeners and the music industry at large.

20 Feet from Stardom

Love sang lead, unaccredited, on a series of hit records produced by Phil Spector in the 1960s, including “He’s a Rebel” by The Crystals. Clayton contributed soaring, gospel-fueled vocals to the Rolling Stones’ “Gimme Shelter,” Lynryd Skynyrd’s “Sweet Home Alabama” and Joe Cocker’s version of “Feelin’ Alright.” Fischer has been a touring member of the Stones since 1989 and has worked with Sting, Tina Turner and trumpeter Chris Botti (with whom she is shown performing here last year at Humphreys Concerts by the Bay).

None of them require Auto-Tune to sing in key. Each of them can make their intensely soulful vocals dance with delight each time they perform. Yet, despite accolades from some of pop's biggest names and the deep respect of their peers, most of them continue to toil in obscurity, even as they collaborate with music legends.

Love is a 2011 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee. Fischer won a 1991 Best R&B Vocal Performance Grammy Award. Alas, like the other artists featured in this movie, they have spent the majority of their careers as backup singers on records and on stage. Their general anonymity inspired “20 Feet from Stardom’s” title.

Tata Vega, who insiders once thought would rival Aretha Franklin, tours in the shadows as a vocal accompanist for Elton John. Claudia Lennear — like Clayton, a former Ikette with Ike & Tina Turner — gave up singing to teach Spanish. Fischer is happy to provide vocal support to the rich and famous. So is Janice Pendarvis, whose credits include landmark albums with Sting, David Bowie, Steely Dan and The O’Jays.

“When you think of all the memorable hooks that people sing (while listening to records we’re featured on), they’re singing with us,” notes Pendarvis.

Love, now 71, is the only former backup singer featured to sustain a solo career. “God gave me a gift, and I intend to use it,” she declares. Her statement takes on more gravity knowing she was working as a maid to support her family for most of the 1970s. Love did not launch her solo career until 1981, when she was 40.